The Heart of the Beast (Story of a Train Wreck)

I'll get back to sports in a minute (OK...next week) but I'd like to tell you about the train wreck.

Oh, you heard all about the train wreck?  About how our community really pulled together and how everybody is OK and all that?

Great.  There is all that.  But there's more.  There's the insider's perspective that maybe you hadn't heard yet.

Here's the scoop:  My son and his family live about 300 yards from the wreck site.  For whatever reason, they didn't get the evacuation notification. 

When they did find out, they headed for my house.  But that was only after several hours in the "hot zone."

So a bit later, when my 2 year old grandson developed a cough, it was decided that they should all head for the hospital.

For the record, let me state that I work for Blount Memorial Hospital. And I've worked in health care for almost 38 years. So if you sense bias here, so be it.   

Anyway, my wife and grandson were the first to arrive, meeting me at the bay to the Emergency Room, where staff had set up a triage center.  It was about noon and there was a steady stream of arrivals, some by ambulance, some by private vehicle.

They were quickly taken to the decontamination area.  My wife could have opted out but there was no way she was going to send her grandson through that without her.

Their clothes were taken, I sprayed them down with a soap mixture, and they went through a series of four showers.  They were then given scrubs to wear and taken to the Emergency Room.

Along the way, mom, dad, and sister all arrived so we were soon all together.  What followed were blood work (not fun for the little ones), x-rays, medical exams, and constant monitoring.

After four hours of observation and no symptoms, the adults were discharged.  The children, however, were transferred to East Tennessee Children's Hospital where they spent the night and went home the next day.  All OK.

I'm sure that over the next few weeks, we will hear stories of people going out of their way to help each other.  That's the kind of community we live in. 

But from my point of view--from someone who was inside the beast-- here's the bottom line:  Our hospital (my hospital) did awesome.  They were ready.  They were efficient.  They were compassionate. 

There's a nurse named Wayne there that my family will always be beholden to.

Children's Hospital did great too.  Though not at the epicenter of the disaster, they were also prepared and efficient and compassionate.

At the end of the day, we should all be glad to know that our health care system works.

Even in the face of a catastrophic event like this.

And that's a good feeling. 

Camp Blackberry 2015

Camp Blackberry is over. Unless you know my family really well, you probably didn't know.  More than likely, it wasn't on your radar.

Oh, what is Camp Blackberry?  It's a summer camp that my wife and I do for our grandchildren.  The name?  We raise blackberries and our last name is Black so...Camp Blackberry...get it?

Well, not all our grandchildren get to come.  The youngest (age 2) gets to stay home.  We did one with a 2 year old and declared then and there that 3 was the minimum age.  Since this one is the wild child, we may make an exception and change the minimum age to 4.  The jury is still out.

We get them for a week.  24/7.  Good times and bad.  Five of them this year, for the record.  We got the idea from Dr. Bob and Sue Ramger, who did the same for their grandkids.

The week is filled with art and crafts and field trips and lots of pool time.  Just like "real" camp.

We eat together, stay together, and laugh together (and once or twice cried together--well, at least the adults did).  We tried camping once a couple of years ago but it didn't work.

This week, we hiked up the Porter Creek Trail to the old Appalachian Hiking Club cabin.  The kids were particularly impressed with the spring house.  And that real water came out of it.

We visited the Knoxville Zoo and thanks to Phil Colclough, Director of Animal Collections and Conservation (and a Maryville resident), got a personal visit with Al, the giant tortoise.

We visited with Ms. Sherry at Liles Organic Farm where we got up close and personal with her llamas, goats, rabbits, and chickens.  If you don't know about Liles Farm, you've missed a gem that is found just outside the Maryville City limits on Tuckaleechee Pike.

We did the touristy thing in a visit to Dixie Stampede.  It's pretty amazing what those horses can do and the kids love it (even the part about eating everything with their hands).

Along the way, the youngest one went from a wall hugger to jumping into the deep end of the pool and swimming all the way across...by herself!

And I've got a photo of one grandchild standing alone on the top of a rock spire about eight feet off the ground.  I thought mama might be bothered but she was thrilled with the balance and bravery it took.   

So what's the point?  There are several, actually.

First, family is everything.  This time together builds bonds and memories that will last a lifetime.

Second, active children become active adults.  Swimming, hiking, swimming, disc golf, more swimming.  Climbing, running, jumping.  Something every day.

Third, children exposed to art and music do better in school, appreciate diversity, and become more well-rounded.

At the end of the day, there is a huge need to just have fun, sing silly songs, and be yourself with the acceptance that probably can only come from grandparents.

And when Blackberries (what we call the campers) tell their parents that they were sad that it was over, then it was a success.

HOPE

I know I usually write about sports.  But this has nothing to do with sports.  Not even remotely.

And if there is any comparison, any hint that this has anything to do with sports, that's a mistake.

By now everybody is aware of the tragedy in Charleston last week.  It was horrible.  Unthinkable really.

I won't rehash the particulars--you've heard about them all.

But what moved me...moved me to tears, actually...was what the family members of those slain had to say directly to the killer. 

"I forgive you."

"God loves you."

"You hurt a lot of people but God forgives you, and I forgive you."

Just days after he had gunned down their family members.  People that were in church on a Wednesday evening.  Senior citizens, mostly.

A state senator who also served as a pastor at the church. 

Good people all, I guarantee you.  You don't find many bad people worshipping on Wednesday night.

And then their families showed more love and grace and forgiveness than most of us can muster up in a lifetime.

I couldn't have done what they did.

Think about it.  Within days of this horrific event, the family members had already forgiven the young man.  Invited him back into their church.

Not me.

Not in 6 weeks.  Probably not in 6 months.   While the shock is still an open wound, to offer forgiveness without hesitation or reservation?

At that same moment, I'm wanting justice.  Demanding punishment.  Just let me get my hands on him!

Those people are so much better than me that I am humbled just to know they are part of the same human race that I am and thrilled because they offer hope for a stricken land.

Yes, there is hope.  Hope for a better day.  Hope for an end to racism and violence.  Hope that America can truly become a land where all men are treated as equals.  That no one is judged by the color of their skin.

Dealing with the Heat (for the Umpteenth Time)

I've been doing this stuff (physical therapy, athletic training) for almost 38 year now.  I've been an athlete for longer than that.  My introduction to organized sports was football, when I was in the 4th grade. 

It was actually pretty unheard of back then to start that young but I was determined to play so my dad signed me up.

All of a sudden I find myself on a team with 14 year-old 8th graders, some of whom were already shaving. 

Didn't stop me though.  I loved the game then and I love it now.

Football has given me a life and a career but that's another story, one I've told here a couple of times. 

I've loved it through the good times of Friday nights and Saturday championships.

I've loved it even through my son's injury on October 3rd, 2002, when he lay on the floor of the Florida State football field with a horribly broken right leg. 

Only once have I been even peripherally involved with a football injury that resulted in death.

It was 1980 and I was living in Bluefield, West Virginia, working with the local high school football team.  It was nothing like today, when we are there all the time.  It was more of an occasional check 

and then one of us was there on Friday nights.

A young man, rather overweight and getting over flu-like symptoms, collapsed at a hot preseason practice and died later at the hospital.

Yes, the heat likely killed him. 

Our athletic trainers work hard to prevent heat-related problems and I'd like to think that in today's world, in Blount County, Tennessee, this young man would have survived.

It wasn't really the game of football that killed him, although practicing in the hottest part of the day with pads and a helmet make for a dangerous situation.

It's hot right now.  As I write this, they're predicting the possibility of a record high today. 

But that doesn't mean you should stay inside in the air conditioned house all the time.  It's OK to get outside, you've just got to be smart about it.

Hydrate.  You gotta do it.  Drink more than you think you need.

Stay wet.  We sweat for a reason.  As the water evaporates from our skin, it cools us off.  Wet from a water bottle is OK too.

Wear bright clothing (to reflect the sun's rays) and a hat.  And clothing that allows air to circulate freely (see evaporation above).

Take breaks.  Maybe always have an exercise partner who can recognize if you are overheating.

And if you do overheat, consider it a medical emergency.  It is imperative that you get cooled off.  In a hurry.  

Be The Ripple

We had a football player at one of our schools several years ago that was pretty unique.  He wasn't very big, a trait not really favored among football players.

A decent athlete, he wasn't that fast-at least not fast enough that would get a little guy on the football field.  He never gained a starter's spot.  I do recall that he was on a couple of special teams.

But what he had was an enthusiasm that was infectious.  He was inspirational and dedicated and never let the fact that he didn't play much affect his attitude.

To watch him around the locker room, you might think he was one of the stars of the team.

Nope.  Hardly ever played.  But he was a leader on that team.  He had a positive impact on his teammates.

Do this.  Find a quiet body of water.  Toss a small stone in the water and watch what happens. 

What you see are ripples that start when the stone hits the water.  Those ripples keep going out, further and further, until they meet an obstacle. 

That's what this kid did.  He was the stone that created the ripple that extending much farther out than you would expect it to.

A lot of talk on team sports centers on the Team.

Things like there's no "I" in team.  Coaches always asking their players to put the team first.  Lots of emphasis on being a good teammate. 

And then there's the kid that doesn't play much.  Like this one.  Maybe they made it to the second team, never quite making it to a starting position. 

At that point, that athlete can do one of two things--either continue working as hard as possible, keeping a good attitude, being ready in case they are needed--in other words, being a good teammate--or they can begin the blame game and lose all that other stuff. 

I saw it not long ago with a little twist.  The starter gets hurt and the backup comes in and does a great job.  Then after the starter is well, that starting spot is not necessarily theirs.

So they can sulk and have a bad attitude, which helps no one.  Or they can support the new starter and the team, keeping a positive outlook even helping with advice.  That's what this kid did. 

And when he regained his starting job, nothing changed.  Not his attitude.  Not his body language.  Not his words.  He was still that same person.  That spoke volumes to the kid's character.

That consistency and commitment to be a good teammate defined who he was and, I truly believe, will serve him well his entire life.

We never know what affect those things that are so tiny as to be hardly noticeable will have on the big picture.  We never know what ripples that small stone will create.

But the affects can be life changing. 

Be the ripple.

Birthday Perspectives

I had a birthday a couple of weeks ago.  You heard about it here.

I don't feel old but I'm getting there.  And I've realized a few things. 

As you get old, life gets slower.  It's not just that you get slower (you do), but life seems to slow down.   Or maybe it's just that life gets simpler.   Maybe even, as your vision declines, things get clearer.

I'm pretty sure that your priorities change. Priorities at least get more distinct, probably more narrow. 

"Things" just aren't so important any more.  Money, houses, cars, jewelry, vacations.  OK...forget that part about vacations...they're still important, maybe even more so.  You heard a little about mine last week.

I used to have an uncle who liked to say "I'm working on my second million...I gave up on my first."   

Money doesn't seem as important as you get older but then most of us of a certain age probably have fewer bills and a steadier income so maybe it isn't fair to say that. 

Maybe you wanted to have a lifestyle that would put you on TV's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.  

If we're honest, we all, at one time, probably wished for riches that would give us the ability to jet off to exotic places on a notion, stay in the finest hotels, eat everything on the menu.

I think I'm one of the lucky ones that realized that I was rich beyond my wildest dreams a long time ago. And it didn't have anything to do with money.   

I didn't have to get old to know that.   When I was much younger, all I wanted was a job that I enjoyed and enough money to put food on the table and make the house and car payment(s).  And kids...I always wanted kids.

At a certain age, you're probably living in your last house and it's probably paid for.  It no longer matters how big your house is but it does matter if you can easily get in and out of the bathroom.  It might even matter more what the yard and landscaping look like than the house.  A lot of old folks are like that. 

If you're old, you probably don't trade cars as often.  We don't.  My wife and I drive the wheels off of our vehicles.  And there are no fancy cars in our garage.  As long as I have a pick-up truck and my wife has a car with seat warmers, we're both happy as can be. 

Jewelry?   Maybe my wife would give you a different answer.  I sure don't need any.  My wedding ring is enough and my watch is so old I can't remember where it came from.

Family becomes more important.   That's probably because you understand better how precious they are.

I'm not exactly like most grandparents who seem prone to say that if they knew grandparenting was so much fun they would have skipped having kids and moved straight into being a grandparent.   I love and enjoy my grandkids but raising my own children was one of the absolute greatest experiences of my life.  

I do know that it took me a while to realize that it was more important that they be happy than it was for them to be the star of the team or to bring home straight A's.  Or clean up their room.  (And I just got the stare from both of them over that straight A's comment.)

Your plans to change the world get modified.   But you're OK with that because you might just realize that you've changed all the world that you need to.  Or maybe you've been able to decide which world you want to change.

Yep, this getting old thing isn't too bad.  I'm healthy and deliriously happy.   

Getting older?  I hope so!  Like Kenny Chesney says "Lord, I want to go to heaven, just not today."

Everybody Needs to Be a Big Deal Sometime

I've been on vacation.  It was wonderful.

Every year we take our children and grandchildren and go to a beach somewhere.  Where doesn't really matter much.  The fact that we're somewhere together means everything.

Our days were hardly routine yet there was a routine that made it memorable and special.

I usually started my day early with a couple of miles on the Standup Up Paddleboard.  The water is calm, there is no one out, and the workout feels good. I look forward to that time all year long.

I'm in charge of breakfast every morning and the kids all have their Daddy Joe favorites.  (The adults do too.)

From there it is a day of beach, pool, snorkeling, naps, and whatever else we decide to do.  The randomness of it all and the total lack of structure (do what you feel like) is part of what makes it a vacation for us all.

Dinner might be at one of our favorite restaurants but we might cook too.  Doesn't matter.  When everyone jumps in to help cook and clean up, there is something really special about the time together.

On this trip, I ran into a guy from Tennessee that I hadn't met but had heard of.  He said something that struck me oddly.  He said "you're sort of a big deal in physical therapy."

I had never thought of myself in those terms.  I think mostly that comes from being around as long as 

I have and partly because I've stayed in the same place as long as I have (36 years and counting).

But I've got to be honest, it does feel good for somebody to say that.

As I walked away, one thought came to mind--isn't that what everyone wants?  To be sort of a big deal in one place or another?

I hope I made my children feel that way.  I hope each of my grandchildren feel that way.   I want them to know that they're a big deal in my eyes.  I think it is crucial in their development to be a big deal at some time.

Maybe that's a grandparent's role.  If so, I embrace it fully.  Because I know with absolute certainty that they are the smartest, the best looking, the most athletic...just like yours.

Don't all children need that?  And maybe, just maybe, adults do too. 

I've said it before (many times):  I don't see bad kids, but I see too many bad parents.  Parents who mistreat their kids.  Parents whose expectations for their children are just not based in reality.

Parents whose children are taking a path of their own choosing that just might not be what their parents have chosen for them and the parents aren't handling it too well.  Parents who are living vicariously through their children.  Maybe those parents never had a time in their lives when they were "sort of a big deal."

We should get that from a lot of places.  Many times, it's from sports.  That's OK, since sports reward effort and dedication, traits that are basic to human success.

So look around you today.  Who in your world needs acknowledgement that that they're "sort of a big deal?"  Let them know it.

They will be better because of it.